14:55 04/09/2009 MOSCOW, September 4 (RIA Novosti) - Police have begun an investigation into a series of explosions that killed at least seven people overnight at an ammunition factory in central Serbia, the country's interior minister said on Friday.

At least four blasts occurred around 10:00 p.m. (20:00 GMT) on Thursday in the town of Uzice, about 150 kilometers (95 miles) southwest of the capital, Belgrade, Ivica Dacic said.

Six of the seven victims were women. Another 14 people were injured.

The Prvi Partizan factory employs some 600 people. Around 100 people were at the factory when the blasts occurred.

There is as yet no information on the cause of the blasts. Firefighters prevented the resulting blaze spearing to a warehouse containing large amounts of live ammunition.

Serbian President Boris Tadic and Defense Minister Dragan Sutanova have expressed their condolences to the families of the dead and injured.

The factory has produced ammunition for nearly 80 years for the Serbian military and police, as well as for export.

09:49 UZICE, Sept 4 (Tanjug) - Serbian town Uzice will declare a mourning day on Friday due to the tragedy that occurred in the ammunition factory Prvi Partisan, when seven persons were killed, six of whom are women, while 14 suffered light injuries.

The cause of the Thursday evening explosions in the ammunition factory are still unknown, and investigation that started Friday morning is to determine what caused the blast. The names of the casualties have not been announced yet.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told journalists in Uzice that greater tragedy was prevented by a quick intervention of firemen and rescue crews of the Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) that prevented the fire from spreading to the storage of products and lacquer department.

Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac expressed grief to the families of the victims.

Prvi Partizan General Manager Dobroslav Andric stated that he is not familiar with the causes of the tragedy, adding that he believes that the process of production cannot be the reason. He said that only two weeks ago, a remount of the entire factory was carried out, adding that all employees have great experience in work with explosives.

The officials stated that the explosion and fire did not cause great damage. The blasts happened in an underground tunnel of Orlovac hill, and poor visibility made difficult the approach of the rescue teams.http://www.tanjug.rs/DefaultE.aspx

BELGRADE -- Five workers of an arms factory in western Serbia where seven of their colleagues died on Thursday have been placed under arrest.The entrance to Prvi Partizan seen on Thursday night (Beta)

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said today that the five persons, employed with Užice's Prvi Partizan plant, have been detained because of suspicion that they committed grave acts against general safety when they "did not follow workplace safety measures".

The investigation has shown that the seven victims suffocated, while the factory's property was destroyed, after a blast that occurred because the suspects "did not work according to the rules on gunpowder handling", said the minister.

Yesterday, Dačić told B92 TV that the explosion was most likely caused by human error.

He also said that MUP's firefighters and other specialized teams in the field acted quickly to prevent a bigger tragedy.

"At that moment some 100 people were in the factory. A bigger tragedy was prevented, because the explosion could have caused a fire to spread to the storage of final products. The factory's security and 50 firefighters prevented a greater catastrophe," said the minister.

Dačić ruled out sabotage, saying that there was no evidence that the blast was caused on purpose, and that this possibility has been "completely removed".

Today is a day of mourning in Serbia, while Užice's local authorities have declared three days of mourning in the town that lost seven of its residents.

Russian Patriot wrote:Poor fellowa! They probably were arrested just because the Serbian gov't needed to blame somone else other than themselves.

It could be that they are covering up something Part of the earlier article I posted:

Prvi Partizan General Manager Dobroslav Andric stated that he is not familiar with the causes of the tragedy, adding that he believes that the process of production cannot be the reason. He said that only two weeks ago, a remount of the entire factory was carried out, adding that all employees have great experience in work with explosives.

Still, what can be the motive to cover something up? Only if it was terrorist act and they don't want to spread panic?!? Or second theory, the company who did that remount made some mistake and the owner could be someone from the people close to ones in power?

SARAJEVO, October 27 (RIA Novosti) - Former Bosnian Serb President Biljana Plavsic was released from a Swedish prison and flown to Belgrade Tuesday after serving two-thirds of her 11-year term for war crimes in the 1990s.

The Swedish authorities earlier confirmed the release of the 79-year-old former Bosnian Serb politician following a decision by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague.

According to media reports, the decision was met with protests by Bosnian Muslim relatives of victims of the 1992-1995 war, but was celebrated by Bosnian Serbs.

Plavsic was president of Republika Srpska for two years, from 1996 through 1998, and was convicted of crimes against humanity in February 2003 after surrendering to the ICTY in January 2001.

Besides being the highest-ranking Bosnian Serb politician to be sentenced, she was also known for her fiery nationalist statements during the War in Bosnia.

In 1992, a widely-circulated photograph showed her stepping over the body of a dead Muslim civilian to kiss the notorious Serb warlord Zeljko Raznatovic, also known as Arkan.

The former university professor is the only woman to be sentenced by the ICTY since its establishment in 1993. Plavsic may still face persecution in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is primarily inhabited by Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats, while Serbs constitute 88% of the population in the Republika Srpska, although both entities are two main political-territorial divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Meanwhile, another former Bosnian Serb leader, Radovan Karadzic, failed to appear for the start of his trial on war crimes and genocide charges at The Hague's International Criminal Tribunal on Monday.

Karadzic, 64, maintains he needs at least nine more months to prepare his defense. He is defending himself against charges that include the massacre of some 7,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995.

War crimes prosecutors have launched their long-awaited case against Radovan Karadzic, as the former Bosnian Serb wartime leader boycotted his trial Tuesday for a second straight day.

In an opening statement, prosecutor Alain Tieger called Karadzic the "supreme commander" of an army responsible for ethnic cleansing that terrorized Bosnia's civilian population during the 1992-to-1995 war.

Karadzic is conducting his own defense and is refusing to attend the trial at the International War Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague. He insists he needs more time to prepare his defense.

The tribunal has rejected those demands, and chief Judge O-Gon Kwon said Tuesday he will consider naming a lawyer to represent the defendant if he continues the boycott.

Prosecutors accuse Karadzic of orchestrating the 1995 massacre of up to 8,000 Muslim men and boys near Srebrenica.

In all, the 64-year-old defendant faces 11 charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Serbian police arrested Karadzic last year after he spent 12 years on the run as one of the world's most wanted fugitives.

His indicted wartime military chief, Ratko Mladic, remains at large. Serbian authorities promise to extradite him to The Hague as soon as he is captured.

Prosecutors accuse Karadzic of orchestrating the 1995 massacre of up to 8,000 Muslim men and boys near Srebrenica.

Well, they tried to put that on late president Milošević but they failed... Many Muslim men and "boys" is the key point! No women! It is not surprise to see that "boy" part since in paramilitary formations as for example KLA is/was volunteers were accepted even though legally underage.I heard even young as 13-14 years of age!!! I hope that no one will get me wrong here 'cause I really wish all those who committed terrible crimes against innocent civilians to be harshly punished but only those who were really guilty and that includes ALL sides in conflict!

The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, has died

15 November 2009 | 11:52 -> 15:13 | Source: B92

BELGRADE -- The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), His Holiness Patriarch Pavle, has died in Belgrade at the age of 95, it has been announced.

The patriarch passed away at 10:45 CET on Sunday, at Belgrade's military clinic VMA, where he had been receiving medical treatment since November 2007.

The bells of the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel are tolling today 15 minutes before each full hour to mark the passing.

Metropolitan Amfilohije confirmed the news, and said that the patriarch received his communion this morning, after which "his holy, Christ-loving heart stopped beating".

The body of the patriarch was taken to the Patriarchy building just before 15:00 CET, where the Holy Synod members will serve a memorial service.

Patriarch Pavle will then lie in state in the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel.

The details of the patriarch's funeral ceremony are expected to be disclosed during the day.

The spiritual leader of the Serbian Orthodox Christians was born in 1914 in what is today Slavonia, Croatia.

He became a monastic in 1948.

Nine years later, the Holy Assembly of Bishops elected Archimandrite Pavle as Bishop of Raška-Prizren.

He subsequently spent 33 years in Kosovo. Reuters news agency reminds today that this came as the province already had an ethnic Albanian majority. Pavle openly spoke of the hardships faced by the province's minority Serbs, and on one occasion in the 1970s was attacked and beaten.

In December 1990, Pavle was chosen as the 44th patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), replacing the ailing Patriarch German.

15 November 2009 | 15:25 | Source: Beta, TanjugBELGRADE -- The Serbian government has proclaimed three days of mourning in honor of the late Serbian Orthodox Church head Patriarch Pavle.

The days of mourning will be observed from November 16-18.

Serbian President Boris Tadić said that the loss of the Patriarch is great, adding that his death is a loss for the Serbian people that cannot be replaced.

“There are people who with their existence alone can hold people together. Patriarch Pavle was such a person,” Tadić said.

“His passing is a personal loss for me,” he added.

Tadić said that he has always consulted Patriarch Pavle during these trying and difficult times that Serbia has gone through, and that he always gave his opinion.

Tadić said that Patriarch Pavle was held in high esteem throughout the Christian world.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković said that the death is a very sad event for the people of Serbia and a great loss for the country.

“The Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbian people have lost a wise leader who showed the road of peace, justice and humanity to all religious followers during difficult times in Serbia,” Cvetkovic said.

Serbian Progressive Party leader Tomislav Nikolić sent a telegram of condolences to the Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, adding that Patriarch Pavle left an imprint on the Serbian people and their history that will last forever.

“In my name and in the name of SNS I would like to express our mourning because His Holiness, Serbian Patriarch Mr. Pavle is no longer with us,” Nikolić said.

15 November 2009 | 16:30 | Source: FoNetGRAČANICA -- The bells of churches and monasteries of the Raška-Prizren Eparchy in Kosovo are tolling in honor of the late Serbian Patriarch Pavle.

Father Rasoslav Janković of the Eparchy’s executive council said that people gathered in the Gračanica monastery to light candles for the spirit of Patriarch Pavle, who was a bishop in Kosovo for 34 years.

“The bells toll for the passing of his soul and we believe that the Lord will bestow the heavens upon him, where the just souls rest, and so that he may also pray to God for us, for the Serbian people, for all the bishops and clergy and believers, and especially for us that live in Kosovo, to remain a part of our motherland,” Father Janković said.

15:37 BELGRADE, Nov 19 (Tanjug) - Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Pavle was buried Thursday around 14 p.m. in the Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel in Rakovica.

The funeral service was held by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral with bishops and clergy and a message of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill was read.

According to his explicit wish, Patriarch Pavle was buried in the churchyard of the Monastery of St Michael the Archangel in Rakovica and the sisterhood of the monastery and citizens of Rakovica took part in the preparations of his eternal dwelling.

Along with the dignitaries of the SPC and other Orthodox Churches, the Patriarch's funeral was also attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, Republika Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, Serbian Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic and former president of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ) and Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica.

Numerous believers and citizens paid their last tribute to the reposed Serbian Patriarch along the route of the funeral procession, in front of the Cathedral of Saint Sava and the Monastery of St. Michael the Archangel in Rakovica.

The Divine Liturgy for Serbian Patriarch Pavle of blessed repose was held Thursday morning at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel where earthly remains of Patriarch Pavle were displayed, and after that the obsequies was held outside the Cathedral of Saint Sava in the presence of hundreds of thousands of people.

About a half million people passed through the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel in the last four days to pay their last tribute to reposed SPC Patriarch Pavle.

Could you google in Serbian to find out? See if he said anything about NATO.

I can't find anything right now. He wasn't the man of politics so much and over the top he was ill and fragile for such a long time, that at one point (last year) he even asked Holly Sinod to retire (which is not the custom in Eastern Orthodox Churches) but they asked him to stay as Patriarch.

Belgrade to Appeal to Int’l Courts if Croatia Closes Border With Serbia

Serbia will seek protection at international courts in case Croatia closes the border between the two countries, Serbian Minister of Labor Aleksandar Vulin said, as cited by the local media.

BELGRADE (Sputnik) – On Thursday, Croatian authorities stated that they could close the border with Serbia, if once again several thousands of migrants arrive in Croatia from the Serbian territory in one day.

"We want to warn Croatia and any other country that the closure of international roads is unacceptable and that we will request the protection of our economic and other interests in international courts," Vulin said, as cited by the Tanjug news outlet Thursday.

The minister added that if Croatia is unable to take care of just about 6,000 people, it should not be a cause of threat to its neighbors, or a reason to deprive refugees of basic human rights.

According to Croatian authorities, in the last two days the country saw an influx of about 7,000 refugees and migrants and began to experience problems with their supervision, accommodation and transport to transit centers or to the borders of the neighboring countries. The refugees, mostly from the Middle East and North Africa, aim to use Croatia as a transit country on their way to reach the wealthier states of the Western Europe.

Few minutes ago happend explosion in Serbian explosives factory Milan Blagojević, five workers have been hospitalised, tree of which with heavy burns. They were transported to nearby hospital in Čačak. One is on intensive care, two are at this moment in operation room others are in somewhat better condition and apparently out of lifethreat. Its still not being decided if 3 badly wounded ones will be transported by helicopter to Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.

"Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that closing borders within Europe could lead to military conflict in the Balkans as she once again sought to defend her refugee policies on Monday. Speaking at a conference in Darmstadt in southern Germany, Merkel said that if Germany closed its border to Austria it could result in military conflict, reports Spiegel. Merkel said that the fence built by Hungary on its border with Serbia “will build up fault lines“ between the states in the Balkan region, many of whom were involved in a bloody war in the 1990s. “I don’t want to it to happen that military conflict is once again necessary there,“ Merkel said, adding that while she didn’t want to be a harbinger of doom, escalations into violence happen more quickly than one thinks.

The chancellor said that a rise in tension between Balkan states is what led her to recently call a conference to discuss the refugee routes through the region. The danger is that if Germany closes its border then these countries will do likewise, she continued. Merkel added that it was Germany’s responsibility, as the largest state in the EU, to find a resolution to the problem that encourages solidarity rather than division. “I am pretty sure we can achieve that,“ said the Chancellor. Merkel’s warning ‘dramaticized’ Dr. Jochen Töpfer, expert in South European politics at Berlin’s Free University, told The Local that Merkel’s comments are somewhat “dramatized.“ “I don’t think that building border fences would directly cause [military confrontation],“ he said. “These states are trying to get into the EU and they want to present a good image of themselves.”

Merkel is most likely trying to create a fear among the Balkan countries that stops them before they take the decision to erect barriers along their borders, he added. But Töpfer also cautioned that one shouldn’t downplay the deteriorating situation in the Balkan region, emphasizing that the wars of the 1990s are “dormant rather than solved.” There is a trend back towards nationalism in the region, which the EU has supported by funding nationalist rather than moderate political groupings, he asserts. “In these countries there is widespread poverty and a struggle over the few resources they have. If you suddenly add half a million refugees to this system you increase the tension that exists there.” Further coalition talks On Thursday, Merkel is again scheduled to meet coalition party heads Sigmar Gabriel and Horst Seehofer to discuss the topic of transit zones for refugees. The proposal to process asylum applications before refugees cross the border has until now been roundly rejected by Sigmar Gabriel, leader of the centre-left Social Democratic Party."

Earlier in the day, Serbia tabled a proposal to postpone a decision - but this proposal was rejected.

The request to allow Kosovo to join was explained as an issue "unrelated to recognizing Kosovo as a state or supporting its UN membership," while a vote in favor would "give citizens of Kosovo access to cultural values and education and support UNESCO's mission."

Serbia and others who opposed the request maintained that allowing Kosovo to join would represent "a politicization of the organization, and a violation of international law."